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SavannahYear 8
← Religion & Worldviews
Religion & WorldviewsEthics: right, wrong and reasons25 min★★ difficulty

Suffering, meaning and what we owe the planet

Suffering is the hardest question in RE, and environmental duty is one of the most current. Both show worldviews doing real work, not just stating beliefs.

Lesson overview

What you'll learn in this lesson

Explain responses to suffering, meaning and purpose across worldviews

Key learning points

  • • The problem of suffering
  • • Where meaning comes from
  • • Stewardship and the environment

This lesson at a glance

  • 25 minutes
  • 16 parts to scroll through
  • 4 quick checks
  • Marked quiz at the end
  • Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses

Words to know

responsessufferingmeaningpurposeacross

Scroll down — the lesson carries on below

Part 1 of 16 · Discover6%
1

Watch & discover

Part 1 of 16

Watch first

Suffering, meaning and what we owe the planet

An English teaching video on this topic from ClickView. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.

In a nutshell

Explain responses to suffering, meaning and purpose across worldviews

2

Learning cycle

Part 2 of 16

Learning cycle 1 of 2

Part 1 · The problem of suffering

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

3

Explore the idea

Part 3 of 16

Learn

The problem of suffering

If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why is there suffering? Answers given include: free will means real choices bring real harm; suffering can build character or compassion; humans see only part of the picture; and — from many atheists — that the question has no good answer, which is a reason not to believe. Buddhist teaching starts elsewhere, treating suffering (dukkha) as a fact of existence and asking how craving keeps it going.

4

Explore the idea

Part 4 of 16

Learn

Where meaning comes from

Meaning may be described as given (a purpose from God), found (discovered in relationships, work and beauty) or made (chosen by the person). Many people hold more than one of these at once.

5

Quick check

Part 5 of 16

Quick check

The 'problem of suffering' is a problem because it seems to conflict with

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Quick check

Part 6 of 16

Quick check

In Buddhist teaching, dukkha refers to

7

Reset break

Part 7 of 16

Pause

That's sitting 1 of 2 done

Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.

Stop here for now
8

Learning cycle

Part 8 of 16

Learning cycle 2 of 2

Part 2 · Stewardship and the environment

A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.

9

Explore the idea

Part 9 of 16

Learn

Stewardship and the environment

Jewish and Christian teaching often speaks of stewardship: the earth is entrusted to humans, so damaging it is a wrong against God as well as against people. Islam uses khalifah, guardianship, and mizan, balance. Hindu and Buddhist teaching emphasises ahimsa, non-harm, extended to animals. Humanists argue from the interests of future generations. Four different starting points, converging on a duty of care.

10

Quick check

Part 10 of 16

Quick check

Stewardship means

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Quick check

Part 11 of 16

Quick check

Which is a non-religious argument for protecting the environment?

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Explore the idea

Part 12 of 16

Worked example

Worked example

Question: 'Suffering proves there is no God.' Evaluate. A strong answer takes the claim seriously — undeserved suffering, such as a child's illness, is hard to reconcile with a loving, all-powerful God. It then gives the strongest reply, usually free will plus limited human perspective. Then it judges: 'Suffering does not disprove God, but it does make some descriptions of God very hard to hold, which is why many believers describe God as suffering alongside people rather than preventing all harm.'

13

Challenge round

Part 13 of 16

Game · Sort it

Which of these are true?

Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.

True

Not true

14

Challenge round

Part 14 of 16

Game · Fill the gaps

Finish the sentences

Choose the word that belongs in each gap.

If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why is there ____?

____ may be described as given (a purpose from God), found (discovered in relationships, work and beauty) or made (chosen by the person).

15

Mastery quiz

Part 15 of 16

Marked quiz

End of lesson quiz: Suffering, meaning and what we owe the planet

4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.

  1. 1. The 'problem of suffering' is a problem because it seems to conflict with

  2. 2. In Buddhist teaching, dukkha refers to

  3. 3. Stewardship means

  4. 4. Which is a non-religious argument for protecting the environment?

16

Lesson round-up

Part 16 of 16

Lesson round-up

Ready when you are

Quiz score

Not sat

Games

Not played

Points this lesson

0

Best run

0 in a row

Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?

Ask Luna

Do the work

Your written work for this lesson

This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.

Source

Two teachings on forgiveness

In Christian teaching, Jesus is asked how many times a person should forgive. He answers not seven times but seventy-seven — meaning forgiveness should not be counted at all. The Lord's Prayer links the two directions together: forgive us as we forgive others.

In Islamic teaching, one of the names of God is al-Ghaffar, the Ever-Forgiving. Muslims are taught that God's mercy is greater than any wrong a person can do, and that those who pardon others are closer to God than those who take revenge.

Both traditions distinguish forgiving from forgetting. A person may forgive and still expect justice, and may seek safety from someone who has harmed them.

Original paraphrases written for Good Learning Co.

Reading questions

  1. What does each teaching say about how far forgiveness should go?
  2. Explain how a believer might use one of these teachings after being hurt by a friend.
  3. "Forgiving someone means letting them off." Give two views on this and say which is stronger, with reasons.

  • Reading and response

    Reading

    Read the lesson text again — especially any scripture, story or quotation — then write what it teaches and how a believer would use it.

    2 paragraphs (PEE)

  • Extended writing

    Writing

    Answer the lesson's big question as an exam answer would: a clear view, a reason, a teaching or example as evidence, and a different view weighed against yours.

    250–350 words

  • Belief in your own words

    Writing

    Explain what this belief means and give one example of how it changes what people do.

    8–10 sentences

  • Different views

    Writing

    Write two different views on this question and say which you find stronger, and why.

    2 paragraphs

  • Symbol or belief diagram

    Diagram

    Draw the symbol, place of worship or idea from this lesson with labels explaining what each part means, then photograph it.

    1 labelled drawing

Saved as you type.

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